If This, Then That (IFTTT)

Who doesn't enjoy stargazing and seeing a full moon rising in the sky? I keep thinking about ways that I can use technology to augment my life, and what better example than to study the ephemerides and make the most of those moments when the night sky is at its best? To solve this, I put together two different Google Sheets that use the Google Apps Script extension and the weatherapi.com API, which is free up to 5000 calls per month.

The Problem

Not every night is ideal for stargazing, and I wanted a simple way to get notified only when the conditions were right. I didn’t want to receive moon phase notifications every day but only when it was a full moon, a new moon, one day before each of those events, and when the moon was at 50% in both the waxing and waning phases. That seemed like the perfect balance—enough to keep me aware without being overwhelmed with notifications.

For the stars, I wanted a system that factored in air quality and cloud cover to let me know when stepping outside to look up would actually be worth it. Here in Northern California's Sacramento Valley, the winter months are fantastic for stargazing because of crystal-clear air, while summer is often filled with smog, making it hard to see the stars even during peak Milky Way season. I needed an automated way to check the conditions before making the effort.

The Solution

I built two different scripts: one for the moon phase and one for stargazing conditions.

• Moon Notifications – Pulls the current moon phase based on my location and only sends notifications when specific conditions are met.
• Stargazing Conditions – Checks air quality, cloud cover, and weather conditions, then notifies me when the night sky is optimal.

How I Built It

1. The Google Apps Script

Google Apps Script powers the automation. The moon script pulls live data on the moon phase and only triggers notifications when the criteria are met. The stargazing script checks AQI, PM2.5, PM10, cloud percentage, and weather conditions. If cloud cover is under 30%, AQI is under 3, and the conditions indicate clear skies, I get a push notification.

      function checkStargazingConditions() {
      var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getSheetByName("Sheet1");
      
      var location = ""; // Latitude, Longitude
      var apiKey = ""; // Your WeatherAPI key
      var today = new Date();
      
      // Format date as "March 1, 2025"
      var dateStr = Utilities.formatDate(today, Session.getScriptTimeZone(), "MMMM d, yyyy");
      
      // WeatherAPI URL (Forecast & Air Quality)
      var url = "http://api.weatherapi.com/v1/forecast.json?key=" + apiKey + "&q=" + encodeURIComponent(location) + "&aqi=yes&days=1";
      
      try {
      var response = UrlFetchApp.fetch(url);
      var data = JSON.parse(response.getContentText());
      var astro = data.forecast.forecastday[0].astro;
      var airQuality = data.current.air_quality;
      var nightWeather = data.forecast.forecastday[0].hour[22]; // Forecast for 10 PM
      
      // Extract Moon Phase Data
      var moonPhase = astro.moon_phase;
      var moonIllumination = astro.moon_illumination;
      
      // Extract Air Quality Index (AQI)
      var aqi = airQuality["us-epa-index"]; // U.S. EPA AQI (1-6 scale)
      var pm25 = airQuality.pm2_5; // Fine Particles (PM2.5)
      var pm10 = airQuality.pm10; // Coarse Particles (PM10)
      
      // Extract Cloud Cover & Weather Conditions
      var cloudCover = nightWeather.cloud; // Cloud cover percentage
      var condition = nightWeather.condition.text; // Weather condition (Clear, Rain, etc.)
      
      // Evaluate Stargazing Conditions
      var goodForStargazing = (aqi <= 2 && cloudCover <= 30 && condition.toLowerCase().includes("clear")); 
      
      var lastRow = sheet.getLastRow() + 1;
      
      // Append data to the sheet for logging
      sheet.appendRow([dateStr, moonPhase, moonIllumination, aqi, pm25, pm10, cloudCover, condition, goodForStargazing ? "Yes" : "No"]);
      SpreadsheetApp.flush(); // Force update
      
      // Only send notification if it's a good night to stargaze
      if (goodForStargazing) {
      sendToIFTTT_Stargazing(moonPhase, moonIllumination, aqi, cloudCover, condition);
      }
      
      } catch (e) {
      Logger.log("Error fetching data: " + e);
      }
      }
      
      // Function to send a Stargazing Notification only if it's a good night
      function sendToIFTTT_Stargazing(phase, illumination, aqi, cloudCover, condition) {
      var url = "https://maker.ifttt.com/trigger/stars/with/key/IFTTT_WEBHOOK_KEY";
      
      var payload = {
      "value1": `Moon: ${phase} (${illumination}%)`,
      "value2": `AQI: ${aqi}, Clouds: ${cloudCover}%`,
      "value3": `${condition.trim()}, Stargazing: Yes`
      };
      
      var options = {
      "method": "post",
      "contentType": "application/json",
      "payload": JSON.stringify(payload)
      };
      
      var response = UrlFetchApp.fetch(url, options);
      Logger.log("Webhook response: " + response.getContentText());
      }
    

2. Connecting to IFTTT

IFTTT bridges the gap between Google Sheets and my phone. I created applets for:

• Moon Phase Notifications
• Stargazing Condition Alerts

By setting up webhooks in IFTTT, I receive push notifications whenever my scripts detect a worthwhile moon phase or optimal stargazing conditions.

Other Use Cases

Once I set up this system, I started thinking about other ways to use IFTTT push notifications. One big one was for my business—tracking accounts receivable. I set up an additional Google Sheet with automated push notifications at 9 AM and 4 PM to show me my current cash flow situation. The difference between morning and evening values keeps me thinking ahead.

Another use case was employee check-ins. When my employees clock in, I receive a notification so I know who’s on the clock. This respects their personal time while also ensuring I can reach out when necessary.

Final Thoughts

By combining Google Sheets, Google Apps Script, and IFTTT, I’ve created a powerful yet lightweight notification system that enhances my daily routine. Whether it's catching a perfect stargazing night, keeping up with business finances, or tracking employee work hours, this setup is simple, scalable, and highly effective. If you’re looking to automate parts of your life or business, IFTTT is a fantastic tool worth exploring.